Verb Conjugation: -и Group (Present Tense)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Bulgarian -и verbs end in -и in the third-person singular and follow a specific pattern for present tense endings.
- Identify the stem by removing the -и ending from the infinitive.
- Add the personal endings: -я/-а, -иш, -и, -им, -ите, -ят/-ат.
- The stress often stays on the stem or shifts to the ending depending on the verb type.
Conjugation of 'говоря' (to speak)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
|
говоря
|
говорим
|
|
2nd
|
говориш
|
говорите
|
|
3rd
|
говори
|
говорят
|
Meanings
This rule covers the conjugation of verbs belonging to the second conjugation group, characterized by an -и ending in the dictionary form.
Present Action
Describing actions happening now or habitual actions.
“Той учи всеки ден.”
“Ние говорим с приятели.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Stem + Ending
|
Аз говоря
|
|
Negative
|
Не + Verb
|
Не говоря
|
|
Question
|
Verb + ли
|
Говориш ли?
|
|
1st Plural
|
Stem + им
|
Ние говорим
|
|
2nd Plural
|
Stem + ите
|
Вие говорите
|
|
3rd Plural
|
Stem + ят/ат
|
Те говорят
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Говоря с него. (Daily conversation)
Говоря с него. (Daily conversation)
Говоря с него. (Daily conversation)
Лафя с него. (Daily conversation)
The -и Verb Family
Common Verbs
- говоря speak
- уча study
- мисля think
Beispiele nach Niveau
Аз говоря български.
I speak Bulgarian.
Ти учиш много.
You study a lot.
Той спи сега.
He is sleeping now.
Ние говорим добре.
We speak well.
Вие учите ли български?
Do you all study Bulgarian?
Те не говорят английски.
They don't speak English.
Аз мисля, че е добре.
I think it is good.
Тя върви към парка.
She is walking to the park.
Ние често говорим за политика.
We often talk about politics.
Те не спят достатъчно.
They don't sleep enough.
Ти учиш ли за изпита?
Are you studying for the exam?
Той мисли дълго преди да отговори.
He thinks for a long time before answering.
Вие говорите с такава увереност.
You speak with such confidence.
Те не спят, докато градът шуми.
They don't sleep while the city is noisy.
Аз не мисля, че това е правилно.
I don't think that is correct.
Тя върви по пътя към успеха.
She is walking the path to success.
Ние говорим за сложни концепции.
We are discussing complex concepts.
Те мислят критично за ситуацията.
They are thinking critically about the situation.
Ти учиш ли за докторат?
Are you studying for a doctorate?
Той не спира да говори.
He doesn't stop talking.
Ние говорим с нюанси, които са важни.
We speak with nuances that are important.
Те спят в тишината на нощта.
They sleep in the silence of the night.
Аз мисля, че това е еволюция.
I think this is an evolution.
Тя върви уверено към целта си.
She is walking confidently toward her goal.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners mix up -е and -и endings.
Confusing -я and -а.
Confusing -ят and -ат.
Häufige Fehler
Аз говори
Аз говоря
Ти говорите
Ти говориш
Те говори
Те говорят
Не говоря ли?
Говоря ли?
Той учит
Той учи
Ние говори
Ние говорим
Вие мисли
Вие мислите
Аз вървям
Аз вървя
Те мислят
Те мислят (correct, but check stem)
Ние спим
Ние спим (correct)
Той говори
Той говори (correct)
Satzmuster
Аз ___ български.
Ти ___ ли български?
Ние ___ с приятели.
Те не ___ сега.
Real World Usage
Ти учиш ли български?
Говорим ли днес?
Говоря три езика.
Къде върви този автобус?
Мислите ли, че е топла?
Аз уча български.
Drop the Pronoun
Watch the Vowel
Learn in Pairs
Be Direct
Smart Tips
Look at the 3rd person singular ending; it reveals the conjugation group.
Drop the subject pronoun.
Place 'ли' immediately after the verb.
Use the -ите ending.
Aussprache
Stress
Stress can shift in the plural forms of some -и verbs.
Question
Говориш ли? ↑
Rising intonation at the end.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Remember the 'I' in -и: It's the 'I' that makes you 'speak' (говоря) and 'think' (мисля).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a giant letter 'И' acting as a bridge. On one side, you are 'speaking' (говоря), and on the other, you are 'studying' (уча).
Rhyme
Ending in И, watch the verb fly, add the right ending and give it a try!
Story
Ivan is a student. Every day he studies (учи). He speaks (говори) with his friends. They think (мислят) about their future.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write 3 sentences about your day using -и verbs in 5 minutes.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Bulgarians often drop the subject pronoun because the verb ending makes it clear who is speaking.
These verbs stem from Proto-Slavic classes.
Gesprächseinstiege
Какво учиш днес?
Говориш ли български?
Какво мислиш за този филм?
Къде вървиш сега?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Аз ___ български.
Ти ___ български.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ние говори.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
They speak.
Answer starts with: Те ...
Вие ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
А: Говориш ли български? Б: Да, ___.
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesАз ___ български.
Ти ___ български.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ние говори.
български / говоря / Аз
They speak.
Вие ___.
Аз -> ?
А: Говориш ли български? Б: Да, ___.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
It depends on the stem-final consonant. Generally, -я follows soft consonants.
Yes, it is very common and natural in Bulgarian.
People will understand you, but it will sound like a beginner mistake.
Yes, a few, but most follow the pattern.
Look at the 3rd person singular form in the dictionary.
No, it can shift in the plural forms.
No, this is only for the present tense.
Use the particle 'ли' after the verb.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Conjugation
Bulgarian drops the subject pronoun more frequently.
Conjugaison
Bulgarian is more phonetic.
Konjugation
Bulgarian conjugation is based on the final vowel of the stem.
Verb conjugation
Bulgarian requires person-matching endings.
Tasrif
Bulgarian does not have gendered verb endings in the present tense.
None
Bulgarian verbs change form; Chinese verbs do not.
